BOSTON – Their starting point guard is entering the final year of his contract and his backcourt partner is a restricted free agent.

The Celtics have decisions to make on Rajon Rondo and Avery Bradley as they move forward in the rebuilding process, and what they did in the NBA Draft on Thursday night will get the speculation machine rolling this summer.

With the No. 6 pick, the Celtics selected point guard Marcus Smart of Oklahoma State, leading observers to wonder if he was being brought in as a future replacement for Rondo.

That, according to the Celtics, is not the case as they insist the pick was made to shore up backcourt depth that will include Rondo, Bradley and Smart, who will play both positions.

“Oh, absolutely, no question,’’ said president of basketball operations Danny Ainge when asked if Rondo and Smart could play side-by-side. “And him and Avery, no question.

“He’s a very versatile player. He can play off the ball. He can handle the ball. Easily those guys can play together. And I think they would like really thrive together, all of them.’’

Smart (along with Arizona’s Aaron Gordon, who went No. 4 to the Orlando Magic), was one of the top targets for the Celtics, who also drafted Kentucky small forward James Young at No. 17.

The team had Smart in for a second workout this week and were sold on his leadership qualities and toughness.

In rebuilding the team, the Celtics say they are looking for as many quality players as possible, not a replacement for Rondo or Bradley.

“It’s interesting,’’ said owner Wyc Grousbeck. “That (replacing Rondo) wasn’t a topic of conversation tonight. We have confidence in Brad (Stevens) that he can manage a roster.

“But we also had confidence that of the top six, we were going to take the best available. That’s the strategy when you’re rebuilding a team. You take the best available athlete and you let it all work out. We’ve got an all-star point guard, so that’s not a question here.

“I don’t think this has any impact on Rajon at all.’’

The Celtics were unable to make a Kevin Love connection with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who elected not to trade their All-Star forward on draft night.

Perhaps they will revisit that option in the summer, but for now, the Celtics are moving ahead with a versatile guard in Smart and a scorer in Young.

“I think I can play either of the guard spots,’’ said Smart during a conference call from New York. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be the point guard. I can play off the ball or with the ball in my hands.

Page 2 of 2 - “They just like the competitive edge I bring and how I can help the team in many ways. Playing with Rondo is a suggestion they also had. Rondo was actually one of the guys I liked a lot just because he reminded me of me, being very versatile and affecting the game in many ways.’’

Smart, who was suspended three games this season for going into the stands to confront a fan at Texas Tech, brings feistiness to the Celtics. His outside shooting needs work, but Smart will be a quality defender.

“We think that this kid really has some special attributes,’’ said Grousbeck. “We like the fact that he’s an instigator.

“Back to Red (Auerbach), as Red told me personally when I came in, you need instigators, not retaliators.

“This kid is energetic. He’s a bull. He’s a force. When I met him, he filled a doorway. He’s got that physique and that drive and that attitude that we really like around the Celtics.’’

For now, the plan is to have Smart be part of a three-guard rotation with Rondo and Bradley, should he re-sign.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt the can play together,’’ said Stevens. “I think it’ll be great for Marcus to have a guy like Rondo to look up to, to learn from. Not many guys get that opportunity, especially early on in the draft like this.’’

Jim Fenton may be reached at jfenton@enterprisenews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JFenton_ent.